Hardin

Hardin as seen in Fire Emblem TCG
Hardin
Species	Human
Class	Cavalier (1/3/BS/11) Emperor (3)
Promotion	Paladin (1/3/11)
Hair color	Brown
Eye color	Brown
Weaponry	Gradivus
Base	Aurelis
Relatives	Marlon (grandfather) Cartas (greatuncle) King Aurelis (brother) Nyna (wife)
Voiced by	Hori Hideyuki
Debut	Fire Emblem: Ankoku Ryuu to Hikari no Tsurugi

Hardin is a character from the Fire Emblem series. He is the star of BS Fire Emblem: Akaneia Senki Part 2 and plays a supporting role in all other Archanean Fire Emblem games. In Book 2 of Fire Emblem 3 he features as a main antagonist.

Background

Hardin is a descendant of Marlon, the brother of Duke Cartas (who wielded the Fire Emblem during the War of Liberation), and the prince of Aurelis (his brother being its king at the time). Sometime before the War of Darkness he liberated and united all the tribes living in slavery under the Archanean aristocracy with nothing more than his sword, earning the admiration of Wolf, Sedgar, Vyland, and all the people of Aurelis. After the Dolhr-Grustian alliance decimated the Kingdom of Archanea and destroyed the Altean Knights, Hardin went into battle against to Macedon army laying siege to his country. After an initial defeat, Hardin began using guerrilla tactics against the army and began a victorious campaign against the Macedonians, becoming known by the nickname of Coyote.

BS Fire Emblem

When Macedon deserters began raiding Aurelis villages in the Story 2 of BS Fire Emblem, Hardin rode against them as an anonymous knight teaming up with Princess Minerva of Macedon. He had much respect for her and admired her talents as leader of the Macedon Knights, commenting on her skills after the battle.

Book One

In the Archean year 604 when General Camus of Grust sent Nyna to Aurelis, Hardin personally rode out to battle between the Sable Order and the Dolhr army. At the battle he found the exhausted Princess Nyna and had her nursed to health back at Aurelis. Some time after the battle, Nyna ordered Hardin and the Aurelis Knights to meet the Macedon forces in a direct confrontation, but the move proved disastrous and turned the war back in Macedon's favor.

Hardin then kept fighting in guerrilla tactics against the Macedon army out of love for Nyna, never stopping to think of his own safety. Only when Marth and the Altean League rendezvoused with the Aurelis Army did Hardin gratefully surrender his position as leader of the army, serving as a body guard for Nyna and vice captain of the Archanean League. He also hit it off with Marth, as they both realized they shared similar ideals (as could be seen in their previous conversation where they each believed the other more worthy of leading the army) and would become close friends in time.

After the War of Darkness ended, Bishop Boah arranged for Nyna to marry either Prince Marth or Hardin. Since Princess Caeda loved Marth, Nyna chose Hardin as her husband, and thus he became the twenty-fourth king of Archanea in the year 606.

Book Two

Hardin ruled as a kind leader, but he was happiest that he was with his beloved Nyna. Sadly, Nyna was unable to return his love, as her heart was still owned by the late General Camus of Grust. Despite this, Nyna and Boah tried to keep Hardin ignorant of the situation, though he eventually discovered her secret in the year 607.

Hardin in Book 2 of Monshou.

Heartbroken, Hardin locked himself in the Millennial Palace refusing to see anyone, until a mysterious merchant offered Hardin a cure for his heartache. After the visit, Hardin became iron fisted, and his appearance changed, with his eyes becoming red, and his skin darkening slightly. He ordered Archanea to reform back to the its status as Holy Empire, before the creation of the Seven Great Kingdoms. He had the enemies of Archanea in the War of Darkness annexed, and imposed himself over the leaders.

He then sent General Lang to Grust after removing General Lorenz from power. As the Grust soldiers rebelled, Hardin asked King Marth of Altea to quell the rebellion. While Marth and the Altean Army fought in Grust and Macedon, Hardin launched his attack against Altea (with Lang's corruption having provoked Marth into disobeying the Empire, which Hardin used as his excuse for the invasion), and decimated the nation even worse than when Medeus had the nation attacked.

After Marth liberated Grust, Hardin physically met Marth at the Chiasmir Bridge and the Fane of Raman. He ordered his troops to destroy the Alteans, however Marth and the army was able to escape from his clutches.

At Gotoh's ice palace, Marth discovered that Hardin was under the influence of the Dark Orb and Gharnef, and that only the power of the Light Orb could defeat him. Hardin's soul was devoured by despair, and only death could free him from Gharnef's influence.

In Gra, Hardin allowed Princess Sheema, the daughter of King Jiol and his second wife the right to rule over the reformed nation. However this was just a ploy to weaken the Altean Army, in the end, Sheema could do nothing but join Marth and end the country of Gra forever.

Hardin finally engaged in battle against Marth at the Millennial Palace, here he used Midia, who was captured after a failed rebellion, as leverage over Marth's army. Despite this, Marth prevailed over Hardin and ended the War of Heroes in the year 608. In his final moments, Hardin reappeared as his normal self, and asked for Marth's forgiveness. His last request was for Marth to watch over Nyna, and to tell her that he loved her until the very end.

Abilities

Hardin is an expert warrior, known as one of the greatest knights in all of Archanea. His knowledge of tactics and leadership is also a great boon to Marth.

Stats

Ankoku Ryuu to Hikari no Tsurugie

Base Stats

• Class: Cavalier
• Lvl: 6
• HP: 20
• Str: 9
• Skl: 7
• Spd: 8
• Lck: 3
• Def: 8
• Res: 0
• Wlv: 9

Growth Rates

• HP: 50
• Str: 30
• Skl: 50
• Spd: 60
• Lck: 30
• Def: 20
• Res: 0
• Wlv: 70

Monshou no Nazo

Book 1

Base Stats

• Class: Cavalier
• Lvl: 6
• HP: 25
• Str: 9
• Skl: 7
• Spd: 8
• Lck: 3
• Def: 8
• Res: 0
• Wlv: 9

Growth Rates

• HP: 50
• Str: 30
• Skl: 50
• Spd: 60
• Lck: 30
• Def: 20
• Res: 3
• Wlv: 70

Book 2

Base Stats

• Class: Emperor
• Lvl: 20
• HP: 50
• Str: 20
• Skl: 20
• Spd: 20
• Lck: 0
• Def: 20
• Res: 20
• Wlv: 0

BS Fire Emblem: Akaneia Senki

The same as Monshou no Nazo Book 1

Shadow Dragon

Base Stats

• Class: Cavalier
• Lvl: 6
• HP: 24
• Str: 9
• Mag: 0
• Skl: 7
• Spd: 8
• Lck: 3
• Def: 8
• Res: 1
• Wlv: Sword D, Lance B

Growth Rates

• HP: 50
• Str: 30
• Mag: 0
• Skl: 55
• Spd: 55
• Lck: 30
• Def: 20
• Res: 0

Other Appearances

Video Games

• In the Super Smash Bros. series, he has not directly appeared, but he has been alluded to. In Super Smash Bros. Melee and Brawl, Hardin is mentioned in some of Marth's trophy descriptions. He is also alluded to during Snake's codec conversation with Mei Ling about Marth in Brawl. In Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, the Spirit battle for Nyna's Spirit involves Ganondorf protecting Nyna's host, with Ganondorf possibly acting as a substitute for Hardin.

Other Media

• Hardin appeared as a main character in Maki Hakoda's Fire Emblem manga. Here he protected Nyna and served beside Marth in battle, as secondary commander of the entire army, and as leader of the Aurelis Knights.

Trivia

• Hardin is the first playable character to become an enemy unit in the whole series.
• He also is one of the few characters to have more appearances than Marth, being playable in four Fire Emblem games.
• In Shadow Dragon he receives a Support Bonus from Marth.